Peoria Station

Like earlier this year (February 8-9), six TZPR gondolas up front on this afternoon's KJRY local returning to Mapleton from East Peoria likely contain scrap railroad wheels for Amsted Rail's Griffin Wheel Div. at Keokuk, Iowa.    I have not been able to confirm the origin of these scrap wheel loads, but TZPR-marked gondolas confirm thart they were loaded locally, probably at Alter Metal Recycling's W. Clarke Street processing facility or Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. The TZPR's RIP facility there and two local firms which refurbish, assembly and supply railcar wheels - Alliance Wheel Services at Washington and Wheelworx North LLC at Pekin - seem likely sources for these wheels.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's "East Peoria turn" is shown on its westbound (return) leg at Cilco Lane south of Bartonville and at Mapleton early-evening Friday, April 24, 2026. LTEX 3836-3010-3837-6437 have 20 cars. Train reportedly had 12 car...

I barely caught this one in time.   I was still in East Peoria when I heard the MOP gave the KJRY instructions into the East Peoria Yard. The traffic lights at the Cedar Street-MacArthur Highway and SW Washington Street are always inconvenienty long-winded as well. I pulled onto Sanger Street just as the dngineer was blowing for the crossing. I guess a going away shot out my car window was better than nothing...   I left the downtown library too late to capture the return leg out of East Peoria. It cleared the Tazewell & Peoria RR at Iowa Junction about 1745 hours. It was dark anyway. Train will probably run west from Mapleton Friday morning, sometime after 0900.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria Turn rounds the curve at Sanger Street in Peoria, Illinois shortly before crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge mid-afternoon Thursday, February 19, 2026. LTEX 6437, LTEX 3010, LNW 3807 and LTEX 3836 have 31 cars.  ...

I haven't chased a westbound Keokuk Junction Rwy. local to Bushnell since October 19, 2023, more than two years. When I arrived Bushnell, I was thinking the ADM soy protein plant had already closed, yet there were two cars on spot and three loads on the stub ready to be spotted. Guess what? Monday's train switched out one empty, re-spotted the load and spotted one of three loads from the stub. The plant will close this year, so I probably saw it get switched for once, but probably my only time.    I noted quite a bit of track work in places, such as crosstie replacement and surfacing with much ballast poured (but not yet surfaced) on the stretch from the Spoon River Bridge to a point past the Marietta Road overpass, but the train never moved at more than 10mph. I left the chase just west of Bushnell about 4:00pm. At those speeds, the train would have reached La Harpe after dark (if it made it at all). I may try again when the days are longer in late-spring/early-summer....

I caught this Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job enroute from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria. Highlights include an empty CN boxcar that is likely in zinc ingot service from British Columbia to Liberty Steel & Wire Co., and four empty ex-CN gondolas marked EMRX (Northern Metals Recycling), indicating a Minnesota origin for scrap metal.   CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job (2 or 3) rolls by Sanger Street in Peoria, Illinois toward the Illinois River enroute from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria mid-afternoon Wednesday, November 5, 2025. TZPR 1352 has 19 cars.   The Keokuk Junction Railway local followed close behind from Iowa Junction with a short train. I stuck around long enough to catch the local on its westbound run back to Mapleton. The 19 ALAB-marked covered hoppers on this one are presumably in corn germ service from Keokuk to Decatur (via Norfolk Southern) as we don't normally see them loaded with corn or soybeans at Sciota, but being blo...

I exited I-74 in East Peoria, jogged E. Washington and then left onto E. Camp Street and heard a faint locomotive horn to the west. Approaching N. Main Street, I noticed an orange geep with a string of tank cars negotiating the Tazewell & Peoria Railroads Farm Creek bridge. I took a u-turn and set up off E. Washington Street for video.    Althought TZPR 2133 belongs to sister Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, this was clearly a TP&W train. Corn syrup and sorbitol tank cars belonging Ingredion's Crystal Car Line (CCLX) and leasing firms, two methyl chloride empties, an unidentified chemical empty (UN 3082), tallow empties, and 22 phosphate empties returning to CSX in Indiana were all from Mapleton industries. I'm unsure if this was a Collier Turn returning home or a through run by the old Kolbe Local.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local rolls along home rail in East Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Wednesday, October 22, 2025. TZPR 2133 has 37 ca...

It seems that the Kolbe Local (EP1) ran through to East Peoria this afternoon. Can't confirm 100%. Normally, it makes a Collier turn and swaps traffic with EP2. Earlier, I noticed three tank cars on the south end of the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard, at the Creve Coeur end, actually.    That this local left 17 cars from Mapleton industries at the TZPR yard instead of taking them first to the TP&W yard demonstrates efficient operation when two shortlines are under common control.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local, probably EP1 out of Kolbe (Mapleton), Illinois, bangs the BioUrja Renewables LLC Riverside Track in Peoria, moments before entering the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge late-afternoon Thursday, October 16, 2025. TPW 2056 has 19 cars. After setting out 17 at the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, and grabbing three more, the five-car train rolls by N. Main Street in East Peoria. - David P. Jor...

I caught another TP&W westbound freight on Sunday!   Athough short, the train had an ecclectic mix of power and rolling stock...and probably new business. The two GBRX gondolas on the head end were laden with the same gray, granular commodity as the BNSF steel hopper mid-train. I can only deduct that these were from the Waelz Sustainable Products plant in Clymers, Indiana.   Since 2022, zinc oxide has been moving from WSP in RISX covered hoppers to Union Pacific at Peoria (via TZPR for awhile now). Iron oxide, another by-product of recycling EAF bag dust from steel mills, has some uses as pigments for paints, coatings and inks, as well as in iron and steel production. It can also be used by the concrete industry.    Note also that there were four RISX covered hoppers on today's train. While most of these zinc oxide loads go to UP, some of have been recently seen as routed TPW-TZPR-IMRR-Springfield-CPKC.    The DOWX tank car, containing a non-haz...

I happened to be approaching the SW Washington Street intersection coming off the Cedar Street Bridge when I caught a glimpse of a train to the southwest. No headlight, so it appeared to be a train having just crossed the river (like me!). I headed down SW Washington and as I crossed the SW Adams Street viaduct, caught a glimpse of a short BNSF manifest. I waited at W. Farmington Road and caught this racing by me. I decided to get it one more time, at Kramm Road a few miles west of Edwards.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL rolls by W. Farmington Road near Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, March 24, 2025. It is shown again at Kramm Road, a few miles west of Edwards. BNSF 4075 and BNSF 6052 have 15 cars. Note two Komatsu truck chassis loads on the head end.   A did go to the downtown library for a little bit, but left early on account of Iowa Interstate PESI's impending departure. When I returned to the south side, I caught a short TP&W local, likely returning...

I had just pulled into the downtown library parking lot when I heard the TZPR dispatcher give M-GALPEI instructions into the East Peoria Yard. So I decided to check out the action. When I arrived Sanger Street, I saw a Union Pacific Decatur-bound (via CN) coal train pulling off the Low Line in the distance at Darst Street. Lighting was better across the river so I contemplated shooting video at Hilliards until I noticed BNSF's M-GALPEI waiting at Darst Street for the UP train to clear.    I will take a manifest over a unit train any day. CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) has entered the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, March 21, 2025. BNSF 7441 and BNSF 4111 have 52 cars.   After the BNSF train cleared, I knew a Keokuk Junction Railway local would cross the river and head back to Mapleton. But I wanted to continue my research and returned to the downtown library. I left early, and caug...

Busy morning.    I bagged three and missed one. I knew that a loaded Powerton-bound coal train was racing down the Peoria Sub, so I pulled off I-474 at Bartonville, headed down US 24 and set up at Mendenhall Road. The train showed up minutes later.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train CNRPW (Coal, N. Rochelle Mine WY to Powerton IL) rolls by Mendenhall Road south of Bartonville, Illinois late-morning Sunday, March 2, 2025. UP 8139 and UP 6239 were on the point, with UP 6730 bringing up the rear as DPU.   While the UP Powerton coal train approached, I heard a locomotive horn, but in the other direction. I figured a TP&W train was running along the parallel ex-Peoria Terminal Co. line. Sure enough, shortly after the UP coal train cleared my position, a TP&W local out of Mapleton rolled by. It stopped at Collier Yard to pick up two zinc oxide empties from the Union Pacific. This gave me time to shoot video of a monster 270-car train of coal empties that Union Pacif...

I got the blues...all three of them!   The Iowa Interstate's SIPE arrived early Wednesday morning with HZRX 5003, an ex-Hudson Bay Railway SD50, for interchange to Norfolk Southern. It was parked on the Creve Coeur Team Track, and still there as of this evening.   After snapping a pics from the Wesley Road crossing, I crossed the river and heard the Keokuk Junction Railway local ask the St. Albans Dispatcher for permission to enter the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Iowa Junction for head room. When I arrived, they shoved a boxcar into Collier Yard and then proceeded eastward.    I didn't get much time at the downtown library, but did linger in the area long enough to capture the Keokuk Junction Railway local on its return leg to Mapleton.  The boxcar on the head end is unusual, but it is either a storage car or perhaps Amsted Rail/Griffin Wheel Div. in Keokuk is routing locomotive wheels to a non-UP destination.  CAPTION:   The Keokuk Juncti...

Enroute to the downtown library this afternoon, I picked up some radio chatter on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad yard channel. I couldn't make out much of what was said, so I had to investigate. Turns out, the Keokuk Junction Railways East Peoria turn was building its outbound train in the East Peoria Yard. I went ahead to the library, but left a little early, figuring I could shoot video of it after pulling Union Pacific interchange at Collier Yard.  I should have left earlier for that, because I found the train crossing Cilco Lane at Sommer. Notably, the train had 19 boxcars dominating a 26-car pickup from UP.  The train headed west a short time later, reported going through Canton at 2050 hours.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's Mapleton-E. Peoria Turn is shown  on its return leg at the Route 9 crossing near Hollis, Illinois early-evening Wednesday, March 27, 2024. A short time later, it is shown at Kolbe (Mapleton) where it stops for switching before h...

I happened to catch this local early evening leaving Kolbe for Colllier Yard. Given the late hour, I wonder if it an extra EPX1 rather than the usual EP1 symbol?  Cars appear to be either tallow empties from Evonik, corn syrup empties and sorbitol loads from Ingredion, and an "environmentally hazard liquid" empty (UN 3082) on the rear, which I'm guessing is from Evonik. Not since I saw a southbound the local the evening of July 18, 2023 have I seen any indication of foundry sand traffic moving to Caterpillar's foundry. I'd like to know what is going on with that.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local runs along the Keokuk Junction Railway as it departs the Kolbe (Mapleton), Illinois area early-evening Monday, March 18, 2024. TZPR 2133 has 15 cars for Collier Yard at Bartonville...and beyond.   David P. Jordan

When I checked for MPECL at Union Pacific's Adams Street Yard as usual Friday afternoon, I didn't expect to see the Keokuk Junction Railway local snaking through Iowa Junction enroute to East Peoria. Reportedly, interchange with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad is being done every two weeks. Strange, but none of the railroad's business is high priority so if the shipper is okay with that... A block of 15 loaded ALAB-marked covered hoppers might contain corn loaded at Sciota. Usually, leased equipment is used for this movement (Alto Ingredients in Pekin is the likely consignee), so this remains unconfirmed. Social media provided a heads up for the return leg.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's Mapleton-E. Peoria turn is shown rolling eastbound along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Krause Avenue mid-afternoon Friday, February 16, 2024. LTEX 6437, PREX 2047, PREX 2018, PREX 2040 and LTEX 3010 have 52 cars. Later, the same set at the same location is shown aft...

I missed Union Pacific's MPECL because it left Adams Street Yard earlier than usual. But I did see the Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria Turn on its return leg to Kolbe/Mapleton. I waited until if pulled Union Pacific interchange from Collier Yard. Today's run had a good mix of cars.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria turn is shown on its return leg after pulling Union Pacific interchange at Collier Yard late-afternoon Tuesday, October 3, 2023. LTEX 6437 and LTEX 3848 have 41 cars.   David P. Jordan

Well...I caught another TP&W train running through from Kolbe (Mapleton) to East Peoria.  The three units apparently brought a cut of phosphate loads (in CSX covered hoppers) to Growmark early Sunday evening, so it makes sense that they'd take some cars back with them to the home terminal.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local, enroute from the Kolbe Industrial Spur near Mapleton to East Peoria, rolls by W. Washington Street shortly before the end of its run late-afternoon Monday, August 21, 2023. TPW 5015, HESR 3485 and TPW 5009 - all running long-hood forward - have 20 cars. David P. Jordan

I learned around 1:30 this afternoon  that Norfolk Southern local D49 had been reported westbound at Goodfield. This is quite late for the train to make its East Peoria turn. So after work, I headed to East Peoria only to find what appeared to be an inbound train already in the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's yard. Shortly, I found NS 3360 and NS 3228 parked on the Creve Coeur Team Track. I believe the crew decided to tie up there until tomorrow. For those willing to wake up that early, you might see an early D49 departure from East Peoria back to Good Yard. Crew is on duty at 6:00am but will have to drive up here, get on the units and couple to the outbound train. I woudn't expect them to leave before 8:00am at the earliest. There are no guarantees, of course, but this scenario seems likely. I doubt they'll have time to come back tomorrow for a regular trip, but you never know. Train D32 may arrive Good Yard from Decatur tonight with a bunch of cars for TZPR. D49's cr...

I just missed seeing the local before crossing the river into East Peoria to interchange with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, but didn't see it in time. I understand it was pretty short. But the the crew had to build its outbound from two tracks (A-18 and A-21, if I remember correctly) so it left much longer.  It appears the last 40 cars were from Tthe Tazewell & Peoria Railroad. That means the head 28 cars, including 17 empty boxcars, were pulled from the Union Pacific at Collier Yard.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's Mapleton-East Peoria Turn is shown on its return leg early evening Monday, May 15, 2023. CEFX 2014, LTEX 3848 and LTEX 6437 have a heavy 68 cars. The whole train is shown at S. Cameron Lane at the west end of the Hollis Pass. Shortly, the power cuts off at the S. Powell Street crossing near Mapleton. - David P. Jordan 

I happened to see the tail end of the train as I crossed the river this afternoon. Immediately, I thought of those eight dry bulk fertilizer behind IMRR 43 on last evening's TZPR transfer from the TP&W's East Peoria Yard. I speculated that these were loaded at Growmark's Mapleton terminal and would go to either BNSF or Iowa Interstate. Turns out, they left on today's Iowa Interstate PESI, and are probably consigned to the Growmark terminal at Stuart, Iowa. (There were a total of 16, presumably all loaded at Mapleton.) CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls by the San Koty (Peoria Heights) area shortly after leaving Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Thursday, April 20, 2023. IAIS 503 and IAIS 511 have 85 cars. - David P. Jordan 

Early this evening after leaving the Peoria Pubic Library in downtown Peoria, I came upon a short TP&W local moving through East Peoria. Rainfall required some creativity, so I shot these scenes from inside my car, angled appropriately to capture the action. The first two tank cars last contained inedible beef tallow, so these were released from Evonik's Mapleton plant. The DOWX car (Dow Chemical) displayed no haz-mat placards so I'm unsure what it last contained. When loaded, these cars seem to come from the Union Pacific interchange at Watseka.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local, probably EP-1, the East Peoria to Collier Yard (Bartonville) turn, is shown shortly before returning to its home terminal in East Peoria, Illinois early evening Thursday, March 16, 2023. TPW 5010 has three empties from Mapleton chemical plants. - David P. Jordan